Railway torpedo



June 7, 1932. H E, SHERMAN 1,861,724

RAILWAY TORPEDG Filed Ja n. 18, 1932 h'nmrv E. 502x194 Patented June 7, 1932 STATES PATENT rica HARRY E. SHERMAN, or ALTON, ILLINOIs, ASSIGNOR TO THE EQUITAZBLE POWDER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or EAST ALTON, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or DELA- WARE RAILWAY 'ronrnno Application filed January 18, 1932.' Serial No. 587,205.

This invention pertains to railway torpedoes, such as are used for signalling to a moving train by placing the torpedo on the rail to be exploded when the train passes v over it.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a torpedo of simple construction which will be reliable and safe in use.

It has been found that with torpedoes heretofore in use the metallic securing elements which connect the torpedo to the rail are liable to be projected violently through the air by the force of the exploding torpedo with consequent danger of injury to bystander-s.

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a torpedo in which the parts are thoroughly destroyed or remain on the rail so that this danger from flying pieces will be eliminated.

Another object is to provide a torpedo which may be applied to a rail in a simple manner with one hand and which will be securely held in place on the rail when applied.

Another object is to provide a novel method of constructing a torpedo of this type.

Further objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a torpedo embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section illustrating the method of making the torpedo;

Figure 3 is a view showing the manner of applying the torpedo to a rail;

- Figure 4 is a'view illustrating the manner in which the torpedo is held on the rail by its securing devices;and a Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a modified method of constructing the torpedo in accordance with this invention.

In accordance with this invention an explosive tablet is wrapped in a strip or strips of protecting material such. for instance, as waterproof paper which is adhesively secured to the tablet so as to enclose the same and protect it against the entrance of moisture. In order to render the tablet attachable to a rail a spring clip is provided which will embodiment of Figure 2 the spring clip for holding the torpedo on the rail has a straight portion 2 at its middle which is secured to the base 1 by confining it between the layers thereof or in the wrapping of the protecting strip thereabout. This secures the wire to the base in such a way that it may be rotated. upon the portion 2 as an axis. This makes it possible to turn the securing clip from its active position to a position in the plane of the torpedo, which arrangement makes it more convenient for packing a number of torpedoes in a small space. Y

The device for securing the torpedo to the rail is constructed of spring wire or other suitable resilient material in the form illustrated in Figure 1. The wire is formed with a straight portion 2 at its middle.

At the ends of the portion 2 of the securing clip the Wire is formed with an upward bend as indicated at 4. This bend should come at the sides of the torpedo so as not to interfere with the rotation thereof. Beyond the bend i the wire is looped upwardly to form an upwardly extending bight 5 above the plane of the torpedo. From this point the wire is bowed outwardly and downwardly to form a pair of arms 6 long enough to extend below the railhead. At their lower extremities the arms 6 are each provided with an inward bend and terminate in a curl 7 -The lower ends of the arms 6 are so shaped asto contact with the lower cornerof the rail head as indicated at 20 in Figure 4. This engagement of the arms with the lower corners of the rail head serves to center the torpedo on the rail.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the base 1 having been assembled with the securing clip in the manner described, the explosive pellet 8 is placed upon the base 1 as illustrated in Figure 2. The pellet may be adhesively secured to the base. A strip of waterproof paper 8 adhesively coated on its underside is then wrapped about the base and the pellet as indicated in Figure 2. As here shown the first end 9 of the strip is placed under the base 1. The strip is then lapped over the top of the base and the assembled pellet and is then passed under the base again to position the final end 10 against the first end 9. The assembled torpedo is then placed upon a. suitable support 11 and a resilient ram or plunger 12 constructed of rubber or other suitable resilient material is brought down upon the assembled torpedo. The plunger 12 may be provided with a cavity 13 adapted to receive the pellet 3 without placing undue pressure thereon while the edges 14 of the plunger engage the marginal portion of the cover strip 8 and press it down upon the base 1 to which it is made to adhere. By using a waterproof adhesive material the torpedo may be rendered waterproof by this method of construction.

While it is convenient and effective to use a block 12 having a cavity 13, it has been found that if soft rubber is used for the block 110 such cavity is required, the resiliency of the rubber being suflicient to permit the block to press down the edges of the wrapping all around the pellet.

In the arrangement of Figure 5, no separate base is required as described in connection with Figure 2. In this case anadhesive strip 21 may be wrapped about the tablet 3 in one direction. Preferably the ends of the strip are arranged to overlap at the bottom of the tablet. A second strip 22 is then wrapped over the first strip and in a direction transverse to the wrapping of said first strip as indicated in Figure 5. The spring clip may have its straight portion 2, confined in a fold in the first end of the strip 22 as shown in Figure 5 and the last end after being wrapped about the pellet is again made to overlap the first end at the bottom of the tablet. This provides two strips forming wrappings transverse to one another. The adhesive strips are then pressed so as to secure their edges together in the same manner as described for Figure 2. This latter construction provides a torpedo in which the tablet is simply wrapped in a waterproof wrapping such that when exploded the entire torpedo is destroyed.

In the use of this device the same is applied to a track rail when it is desired to signal a moving train, as for instance, when a train which is delayed on the road desires to warn a following train of itspresence. In order to apply the device it is only necessary to turn the securing clip at right angles to the torpedo and then by grasping the arm 6, as indicated in Figure 3, the opposite arm may be hooked over the opposite side of the rail head and the clip then spread by pulling 011 it so as to bring the other. arm .under the other side of the rail head to the position shown in Figure 4. With the torpedo applied as shown in Figure 4 the upper surfaces of the curl portions 7 provide abutments engaging the under side of the rail head. These abutments are blunt so that the clip may adjust itself to a suitable position on the surface of the rail head. In this position the tension put upon the portions 7 by the arms 6 is almost directly upward against the rail head. This operates to press the torpedo downwardly upon the upper rail surface with a considerable force so that it is frictionally held in "place with sulficient pressure to prevent its creeping along the rail a head of the train wheel or from being dislodged from the rail as sometimes-happens with torpedoes of prior construction.

Figure 4 shows in dotted lines the positions assumed by the arms 6 when the torpedo is'applied to a. heavier rail having a thicker head. This figure shows that with whatever size of rail the torpedo is used the arms 6 and their ends 7 act to produce a directly downwardtension tohold thetorpedov firmly against the'rail. Also the contact at the corner 20 is maintained so that the torpedo is centered on the rail. The yield of the clip in the bends 4 and the bight 5 all contribute to the yielding pressure with which the torpedo is held in lace.

It will be seen, therefore, that this .invention accomplishes its objects in'providing a torpedo of simple and inexpensive construction and one which is safe and reliable in service. The shape of the arms insures that the torpedo will be maintained in proper position on top of a rail as the arms are formed to maintained a good bearing on all. sizesof rail heads and to press the torpedo firmly down upon the track. There are .no metallic parts in the construction of the device with the-exception of the securing clip and this is so constructed that it remains on the rail after the torpedo has exploded. The absence of metallic parts renders it impossible for the explosion to shoot fragments of such parts about so as to endanger persons in the vicinity. The use of a simple wire clip for securing the torpedo provides little surface exposed to the explosion and accordingly the clip is not destroyed by the explosion, but remains in place on the rail. Accordingly all danger of flying metallic fragments is obviated. The ease of handling and the possibility of applying the clip with one hand by a simple manipulation even while wearing gloves, or when one hand is occupied as is often the case with a brakeman carrying a lantern or the like makes this torpedo simple to use. The spring clip, unlike other devices used for the purpose, has no sharp points or cutting edges likely to injure the operator when placing the torpedo on the rail. The upwardly extended bight 5 together with the bowed arms 6 provide for a downward stretch of the arms when applied to the rail so that the torpedo is always tensioned downward and retains its position on the rail.

The above described method of manufacturing the torpedo is cheap and simple and renders the torpedo completely waterproof so that it is reliable even in bad weather.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and/or described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A railway signal torpedo, comprising, an explosive tablet, and means for securing the same to a rail including a pair of spring arms outwardly bowed and having blunt ends engageable with the under side of the rail head, said arms being formed to force said ends upwardly against the rail head.

2. A railway signal torpedo, comprising, an explosive tablet, and means for securing the same to a rail including a pair of spring arms each formed with an upwardly extending bight laterally of said tablet and above the rail head and having inturned ends engageable with the under side of the rail head.

3. A railway signal torpedo, comprising an explosive tablet, and means for securing the same to a rail including a pair of spring arms each formed with an upward bend at the side of the tablet and an upwardly extending bight laterally of said tablet and above the rail head and having inturned ends engageable with the under side of the rail head.

4. A railway signal torpedo, comprising an explosive tablet, and means for securing the same to a rail including a pair of spring arms each formed with an upwardly extending bight laterally of said tablet and above the rail head and having side portions outward- 1y bowed and inturned ends engageable with the under side of the rail head.

5. A railway signal torpedo, comprising, an explosive tablet, and means for securing the same to a rail including a pair of spring arms outwardly bowed at their upper portion to clear the upper part of the rail head and inclined inwardly at their lower portion to engage the lower corners of the rail head, said arms having blunt ends engaging the under surface of the rail head.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature this 31st day of December, 1931.

HARRY E. SHERMAN. 

